Low clumps with multiple white flowers and thick, gray-green hairy leaves. The outer bract is leaf-like, the inner bracts are often notched near the apex.  The corolla is
two-lipped, hairy and white or cream with yellow tips; it has sharp-toothed  calyces that enclose the proximal part of the corolla which is shorter than the calyx.  Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 5-22-2010. © Joan Avise

Salt Marsh Bird's Beak

Cordylanthus maritimus ssp. maritimus

A patchy, local annual on sandy soil in upper coastal salt marsh. Hemiparasitic, with Batis and Salicornia (two species of pickleweed) as host plants.

Federal Status: Endangered
California Status: Endangered
CNPS Status: 1B.2 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA and elsewhere).

Orobanchaceae

Back to Orobanchaceae of Orange County, California
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It is halophylic, concentrating and excreting salts that produce a grainy crust on the foliage (left).  The fruit is a capsule containing brown net-textured seeds (left). Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 5-22-2010. © Joan Avise
There are many branches with a central spike. Here growing with Salicornia as host plant. Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 5-22-2010. © Joan Avise

Thriving colony. Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 5-22-2010. © Joan Avise
The largest of the remaining three populations in southern California, at Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 5-22-2010. © Joan Avise

On sand with Batis and Salicornia as host plants. Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 5-22-2010. © Joan Avise
Gray-green leaves tinged with purple. Upper Newport Bay, Newport Beach, Orange County, CA. 5-22-2010. © Joan Avise